Cooking utensil for strip food products



July 21, 1959 w. B. RANDOLPH, 2,895,406

COOKING UTENSIL FOR STRIP FOOD PRODUCTS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1955 Lll] -39 3e 37 4e 44, 49,45 m 50/ 20 22v g 11111111 f F [1:45 J1 I \41 0a" J -='1 a INVENTOR v 38 3:1. 1 WILLIAM B RANDOLPH.

v 2, 27 gg BY 0 27% United States Patent COOKING UTENSIL FOR STRIP FOODPRODUCTS William B. Randolph, Falls Church, Va.

Continuation of application Serial No. 553,070, Decemher 14, 1955. Thisapplication March 18, 1957, Serial No. 646,677

17 Claims. (Cl. 99-341) This invention relates to apparatus for use intreating and preparing food products and more particularly to a cookingutensil for strip food products, such as bacon or the like. Thisapplication is a continuation of my copending application, Serial No.553,070 filed December 14, 1955.

As is well know, bacon and other similar strip food products arenormally prepared for the table by placing the strips in a frying pan orother suitable cooking utensil which may be either of the electricallyheated variety, or may be placed on a stove and the food productsubjected to such heat for a suitable period of time. In order that thestrips of bacon or other food product will be uniformly cooked on bothsides, it is necessary to frequently turn the same and this requiresfrequent manual manipulation and since, there is a relatively largequantity of hot grease or other fluid in the pan, the act of turning thestrips of bacon frequently splashes such grease onto. surroundingobjects and also frequently causes painful burns to the cook.Furthermore, it is well known that bacon and similar food productsduring cooking thereof, tends to twist and shrivel with the result thatone strip frequently becomes attached to an adjacent strip therebyimpeding or complicating the turning operation and furthermore, thistwisting and shriveling results in uneven cooking of the food product.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a cookingutensil for strip food products in which the strips of food areuniformally and simultaneously cooked on both sides without requiringany manipulation or turning of the same during the cooking operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cooking utensilfor strip food products in which any desired number of strips of food,such as bacon, may be placed in a holder and all of such stripssimultaneously and uniformally cooked on both sides without attentionduringthe cooking operation, the only manual operations necessary beingthe placing of the strips of food in the holder and removing the same,therefrom after cooking.

A still further object of the, invention is the provision of a cookingutensil for strip food products which may be manufactured in massproduction by suitable stamping, drawing or casting operations and, inwhich relatively lightweight materials, such as aluminum, may beemployed.

Another object of the invention is, the provision of a cooking utensilfor strip food. products in which such strips of food are supported ina. manner to maintain the same out of contact with. grease or otherfluid flowing therefrom during the cooking operation and in which suchgrease or fluid is collected in areceptacle integral with the cookingutensil.

A further object of the invention is the. provision of a cookingutensilfor strip food productsjin which means is provided for simultaneouslyand uniformally cooking a plurality of S ip ofiiq di uch.asabaconrandliniwhich 2,895,406 Patented July 21, 1959,

means is further provided to permit visual inspection of such foodstrips during the cooking operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a cookingutensil for strip food products and incorporating electrical heatingmeans.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cooking utensilfor strip food products, including means comprising a holder forreceiving a plurality of food strips in spaced substantially parallele-dgewise position and for adequately supporting each strip fromopposite sides thereof to prevent twisting or shriveling therebyresulting in a cooked food product, such. as bacon or the like, which issubstantially fiat thereby presenting a pleasing appearance.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cooking utensilfor strip food products incorporating a holder for the food strip tomaintain the same in upright edgewise position and with the heat forcooking being conducted through the holder.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction wi'th the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a cooking utensil constructed in accordancewith this invention and showing a holder for strip food products inplace therein, preparatory to the cooking operation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2'--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 an enlarged end elevational view of the strip food holder infolded position, such as the same would occupy with strips of foodplaced therein and preparatory to placing the holder in the channel ofthe pan shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 an end elevational view of the holder shown in Fig. 3 in flat orunfolded position;

Fig. 5 an exploded top plan view of the plates utilized [to constructthe strip food holder shown in Fig. 3 and showing the relationship ofsuch plate prior to asernbly;

Fig. 6 a fragmentary view in perspective with parts broken away forgreaterclairty and showing the position occupied by a strip of foodduring the cooking operation;

Fig. 7 a top plan view of a modified form of plate utilized in the stripfood holder, the same being provided with an aperture closed by atransparent plate to permit inspection of the food product during thecooking operati'on'; and

Fig. 8 a transverse sectional View of a modified form of the cookingutensil of this invention and showing the inclusion of electricalheating means.

With continued reference to the drawing there is shown a cooking utensilconstructed in accordance with this invention and which may wellcomprise a relatively shallow pan 10 provided with a bottom wall 11 anda sidewall 12. If desired, the pan It} may be of oval shape, as shown inFig. l, with end walls 13 and 14, or if desired maybe a true oval or maybe formed with any other suitable configuration. The pan 10 may comprisea stamping or casting and the same may be made from suitable lightweightmaterial, such as aluminum.

Located substantially centrally of the pan 10, is an elongatedupstanding portion 15, which may be stamped from the bottom wall 11 ofthe pan Iii, or formed integrally therewith during a casting operationdepending upon the method used in the manufacture of the pan. Also, ifdesired, the upstanding portion 15 could be fabricated separately fromthe pan 10 and secured thereto in the proper location in any suitablemanner. As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 2, the upstandingportion 15 provides a top wall 16 spaced above the bottom wall 11 of thepan 10 and provided in the top wall 16 is a channel 17 extendinglongitudinally of the upstanding portion 15 and with the ends of thechannel 1 7. open for a purposeto be presently described, It will benoted, that the upstanding portion 15 terminates at each end in spacedrelation to the end walls 13 and 14 of the pan 10, or in the event asingle sidewall 12 is provided, the ends of the upstanding portion 15would terminate inwardly of such sidewall. It is also to be noted, thatthe bottom wall 18 of the channel 17 is spaced above the bottom wall 11of the pan 10.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upstanding portion 15 is hollow, in order toconserve material, but of course, if desired, such upstanding portion 15could be made solid, although this is not necessary to the operation ofthe cooking utensil of this invention.

With particular reference to Figs. 3 and 4, a holder 19 for receivingfood strips is provided and such holder comprises a plurality of plates20, 21, 22 and 23 hingedly connected together along alternate side edgesin a manner and for a purpose to be presently described. For purposes ofillustration only, four such plates have been shown, but it is to beunderstood, that any number of plates may be hingedly connected togetherto provide a holder for receiving any desired number of food strips.

As shown in Fig. 5, each of the plates 20, 21, 22 and 23 utilized toform the holder 19 is of elongated substantially rectangular flatconfiguration and each plate is at least as long and as wide as thelength and width of the food strips to be received in the holder 19. Theplates 20, 21, 22 and 23 may be stamped from suitable sheet material,such as aluminum and the plate 20 is provided along one edge, with aplurality of hinge elements 24 which extend through correspondingapertures 25 in the plate 21 and as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thehinge elements 24 are curled to hingedly connect the plate 20 to theplate 21 along one side edge thereof. The plate 21 is also provided withspaced hinge elements 26 which extend through apertures 27 in the plate22 and hingedly connect plates 21 and 22 together along side edgesthereof. Plate 22 is also provided with hinge elements 28 which extendthrough apertures 29 in the plate 23 and hingedly connect plates 22 and23 together. Obviously, this same arrangement of hinge elements andapertures may be used to hingedly connect any desired number of platestogether to provide a holder for receiving the desired number of foodstrips. The hinge elements on the plates 20, 21, 22 and 23 may be formedintegral therewith by a suitable stamping operation, or if desired, suchhinge elements may be separately fabric ated and secured thereto in anysuitable manner. Plate 20 is provided with a plurality of transverselyextending lugs 30 which may be formed integral with the plate 20 by asuitable stamping operation or separately fabricated and secured theretoin any desired manner and it is to be noted, that the lugs 30 arelocated adjacent one edge of the plate 20, which edge is lowermost whenthe plates are in folded position as shown in Fig. 3. In a similarmanner, plate 21 is provided with a plurality of lugs 31 and plate 22 isprovided with a plurality of lugs 32. In each case, these lugs areadjacent the edge of the plate which will be lowermost when the same arein folded condition as shown in Fig. 3. In order to facilitatemanipulation of the plates forming the holder 19, the outermost plates20 and 23 may be provided with manipulating knobs or handles 33.

As shown in Fig. 4, the holder 19 may be unfolded to a substantiallyflat condition and a strip of bacon or other food product may be placedon the plate 20 with the edge of the strip engaging the lugs 30 andthereafter the plate 21 foldedover to a position above the plate 21} anda strip of bacon or other food product may be placed on the plate 20with the edge of the strip engaging the lugs 30 and thereafter the plate21 folded over to a position above the plate 20 and a strip of bacon orother food product placed on the plate 20 with the edge thereof inengagement with the lugs 31. The plate 22 is then folded to overlie theplate 21 and a strip of bacon or other food product placed on the plate22 with the edge in engagement with the lugs 32. The plate 23 is thenfolded to overlying position with relation to the plate 22 and theholder 19 is then in folded condition as shown in Fig. 3. Such holderwith the strips of bacon or other food pfoduct contained therein is thenplaced in the channel 17, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the outermostplates 20 and 23 engaging the sidewalls 34 and 35 of the channel 17 andwith the lower edges of the holder 19 engaging the bottom wall 18 of thechannel 17. Upon the application of heat to the under side of the pan10, such heat will be conducted through the bottom wall 18 and sidewalls34 and 35 of the channel 17 to the plates forming the holder 19 and as aresult thereof, the strips of food product received between the plateswill be uniformly cooked on both sides thereof and grease or otherfluids flowing from the strips of food product will flow through thechannel 17 and into the pan 10. As shown in Fig. 6, the strip of baconor other food product 36 is firmly held between the plates of the holder19 and with the lower edge of the strip 36 supported by the lugs 32. Ofcourse, each strip 36 of food product between adjacent plates ispositioned and supported in the same manner. Upon completion of thegooking operation, the holder 19 is removed from the channel 17 andopened to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the strips of bacon orother food product may be conveniently removed therefrom.

If desired, the outer plates 20 and 23 of the holder 19 may be modifiedas shown in Fig. 7, in which a plate 37 is provided with an elongatedaperture 38 and a plate of glass or other suitable heat-resistanttransparent material 39 is attached to the plate 37 in any suitablemanner to close the aperture 38, but at the same time, permit visualinspection of the outermost strips 36 of the food product during thecooking operation.

It is also to be understood, that the holder for food strips maycomprise separate plates for receiving the food strips between them toprovide a pack and that such pack may be supported in heat conductingrelationship with the bottom wall of the pan in any desired manner, withthe plates and food strips disposed at substantially right angles to thebottom wall of the pan. The heat fcl)r cooking the food strips isconducted through the p ates.

It is furthermore obvious that if desired, the plates forming the holderfor food strips may be supported in the pan by means other than achannel or groove.

A further modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 8 in which apan 40 is provided with a bottom wall 41 and a sidewall 42 and anupstanding portion 43 is formed in the bottom wall 41 in a mannersimilar to the upstanding portion 15 of the previously described form ofthe invention. The sidewalls 44 and 45, together with the sidewalls 46and 47 on the channel 48 provide inverted channels 49 and 50 andreceived within the channels 49 and 50 are electrical heating elements51 and 52 which may be retained in position by closure plates or sealingmaterial 53. In this manner, a self-contained and self-heating cookingutensil is provided which eliminates the necessity of a stove or otherheat producing medium.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has beenprovided a relatively simple and economically constructed cookingutensil specifically designed for properly cooking strip food products,such as bacon or the like, to uniformally cook the same on both sidesand to prevent wrinkling or shriveling of the bacon or other foodproduct during the cooking operation. Furthermore, as will be obviousfrom the above, the bacon or other food product is maintained out ofcontact with the grease or other fluid flowing therefrom during thecooking operation which results in a dry crisp product, rather than onewhich has been soaked in grease, as is common in present day cookingoperations for this particular type of food.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the a t that various changes maybe made in the invention, without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention. is not limited by that which isshown in the draw-. ing and; described in the specification, but only asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cooking utensil for strip food products, said utensil comprising a,relatively shallow pan having bottom and side walls, an elongatedupstanding portion substantially, centrally disposed in said bottom walland terminating at. opposite ends, in spaced relation to said sidewalland: providing a top, wall spaced above said bottom wall, a channelin said top wall extending longitudinally of said upstanding portion,said channel being open at opposite endsto permit drainage into saidpan, a holder for strip food products removably disposed in said channelwith strips of food carriedthereby disposed, in spaced substantiallyparallel, upright edgewise position, said holder comprising a pluralityof elongated, substantially rectangular, flat plates, said, plates beingof a length and widthat least equal to, the length and width of saidfood strips, said plates, being hingedly connected together at alternatetop and bottom side, edges whereby said plates may be folded into spacedsubstantially parallel relationship with a food strip disposed betweeneach adjacent pair of plates and unfolded to facilitate the placing orremoval of said food strips, laterally extending lugs on certain ofsaid; plates adjacent the lower side edges for engaging the lower edgesof said food strips and sup porting the same between adjacent pairs ofplates and manipulating handles on the outermost plates of said holderwhereby with food strips disposed between adjacent pairs of plates andwith said holder disposed in said channel upon the application of heatto said upstanding portion said food strips will be uniformally cookedby heat conducted through said plates and fluid from said food stripswill flow through said channel into said pan.

2. A cooking utensil for strip food products, said utensil comprising arelatively shallow pan having bottom and side walls, an elongatedupstanding portion substantially centrally disposed in said bottom walland terminating at opposite ends in spaced relation to said side wallsand providing a top wall spaced above said bottom wall, a channel insaid top wall extending longitudinally of said upstanding portion, saidchannel being open at opposite ends to permit drainage into said pan, aholder for strip food products removably disposed in said chan nel withstrips of food carried thereby disposed in spaced, substantiallyparallel, upright edgewise position, said holder comprising a pluralityof elongated, substantially rectangular, flat plates, said plates beinghingedly connected together at alternate top and the bottom side edgeswhereby said plates may be folded into spaced substantially parallelrelationship with a food strip disposed between each adjacent pair ofplates and unfolded to facilitate the placing or removal of said foodstrips, laterally, extending lugs on certain of said plates adjacent thelower side edges for engaging the lower edges of said food strips andsupporting the same between adjacent pairs of plates and manipulatinghandles on the outermost plates of said holder whereby with food stripsdisposed between adjacent pairs of plates and with said holder disposedin said channel upon the application of heat to said upstanding portionsaid food strips will be uniformally cooked by heat conducted throughsaid plates and fluid from said food strips will flow through saidchannel into said pan.

3. A cooking utensil for strip food products, said utensil comprising arelatively shallow pan having bottom and side walls, an elongatedupstanding portion substantially centrally disposed in said bottom walland terminating at opposite ends in spaced relation to said side walland providing a top wall spaced above said bottom wall, a channel insaid top wall extending longitudinally of said upstanding portion, saidchannel being open at opposite ends to permit drainage into said pan,

a holder for strip food, produets removably disposed in said channelwith strips of food carried thereby disposed inspaced, substantiallyparallel, upright edgewise position, said holder comprising a pluralityof elongated, substantially rectangular fiat plates, said plates beinghingedly connected together at alternate top and bottom side edgeswhereby said plates may be folded into spaced substantially parallelrelationship with a food strip disposed between each adjacent pair ofplates and unfolded to facilitate the placing or removal of said foodstrips and laterally extending lugs on certain of said plates adjacentthe lower side edges for engaging the lower edges of said, food stripsand supporting the same between adjacent pairs of plates whereby withfood strips disposed between adjacent pairs of plates and with saidholder disposed in said channel upon the application of heat to saidupstanding portion said food strips will be uniformly cooked by heatconducted through said plates and fluid from said food strips will flowthrough said channel into said pan.

4. A cooking utensil for strip food products, said utensil comprising arelatively shallow pan having bottom and side walls, an elongatedupstanding portion substantially centrally disposed in said bottom walland providing a top wall spaced above said bottom wall, a channel insaid top wall extending longitudinally of said upstanding portion, saidchannel being open at opposite ends to permit drainage into said pan, aholder for strip food products removably disposed in said channel withstrips of food carried thereby disposed in spaced, substantiallyparallel, upright edgewise position, said holder comprising a pluralityof elongated, substantially rectangular, flat plates, said plates beinghingedly connected together at alternate top and bottom side edgeswhereby saidplates, may be folded into spaced substantially parallelrelationship with a food strip disposed between each adjacent pair ofplates and unfolded to facilitate the placing or removal of said foodstrips and laterally extending lugs on certain of said plates adjacentthe lower side edges for engaging the lower edges of said food stripsand supporting the same between adjacent pairs of plates whereby withfood strips disposed between adjacent pairs of plates and with saidholder disposed in said channel upon the application of heat to saidupstanding portion said food strips will be uniformly cooked by heatconducted through said plates and fluid from said food strips will flowthrough said channel into said pan.

5. A cooking utensil for strip food. products, said utensil comprising arelatively shallow pan having bottom and side walls, an upstandingportion substantially centrally disposed in said bottom wall andproviding a top wall spaced above said bottom wall, a channel in saidtop wall extending longitudinally of said upstanding portion, saidchannel being open at opposite ends to permit drainage into said pan, aholder for strip food products removably disposed in said channel withstrips of food carried thereby disposed in spaced, substantiallyparallel, upright edgewise position, said holder comprising a pluralityof elongated, substantially rectangular, flat plates, said plates beinghingedly connected together at alternate top and bottom side edgeswhereby said plates may be folded into spaced substantially parallelrelationship with a food strip disposed between each adjacent pair ofplates and unfolded to facilitate the placing or removal of said foodstrips and means on certain of said plates for engaging said food stripsand supporting the same between adjacent pairs of plates whereby withfood strips disposed between adjacent pairs of plates and with saidholder disposed in said channel upon the application of heat to saidupstanding portion said food strips will be uniformly cooked by heatconducted through said plates and fluid from said food strips will flowthrough said channel into said pan.

6. A cooking utensil for strip food products, said utensil comprising arelatively shallow pan having bottom and side walls, an upstandingportion substantially centrally disposed in said bottom wall andproviding a top wall spaced above said bottom wall, a channel in saidtop wall extending longitudinally of said upstanding portion, saidchannel being open at opposite ends to permit drainage into said pan, aholder for strip food products removably disposed in said channel withstrips of food carried thereby disposed in spaced, substantiallyparallel, upright edgewise position, said holder comprising a pluralityof elongated, substantially rectangular plates, said plates beinghingedly connected together whereby said plates may be folded intospaced substantially parallel relationship with a food strip disposedbetween each adjacent pair of plates and unfolded to facilitate theplacing or removal of said food strips and means on certain of saidplates for engaging said food strips and supporting the same betweenadjacent pairs of plates and with said holder disposed in said channelupon the application of heat to said upstanding portion said food stripswill be uniformly cooked by heat conducted through said plates and fluidfrom said food strips will flow through said channel into said pan.

7. A cooking utensil as defined in claim 4, in which said upstandingportion is hollow.

8. A cooking utensil as defined in claim 4, in which said upstandingportion is integral with the bottom wall of said pan.

9. A cooking utensil as defined in claim 4, in which said upstandingportion is hollow and integral with the bottom wall of said pan.

10. A cooking utensil as defined in claim 4, in which said upstandingportion is hollow and an electric heating element disposed in saidupstanding portion.

11. A cooking utensil as defined in claim 4, in which said upstandingportion is hollow and integral with the bottom wall of said pan and anelectric heating element disposed in said upstanding portion.

12. A cooking utensil as defined in claim 4, in which the outermostplates of said holder are provided with means for permitting inspectionof the outermost food strips in said holder during cooking and whilesaid holder is disposed in said channel.

13. A cooking utensil as defined in claim 4' in which the outermostplates of said holder are. provided, with elongated apertures and platesof heat-resistant transparent material closing said apertures wherebythe outermost food strips in said holder may be inspected during cookingand while said holder is disposed in said channel. 14. A cooking utensilas defined in claim 4, in which the means for hingedly connecting saidplates together is integral with the respective plates.

15. A cooking utensil as defined in claim 4, inwhich said lugs areintegral with the respective plates.

16. A cooking utensil as defined in. claim 4, in which the means forhingedly connecting said plates together and said lugs are integral withsaid plates.

17. A cooking utensil for strip food products, said utensil comprising apan having imperforate bottom and side "walls, a holder for strip foodproducts comprising a plurality of spaced substantially parallel heatconducting plates for receiving a food strip between each adjacent pairof plates and means for removably supporting said holder on said bottomwall in direct contact with and in heat conducting relationship theretowith said plates and food strips disposed at substantially right anglesto said bottom wall whereby said food strips will be uniformally cookedby heat conducted through said plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

